Surface toggle-switch



. 1 w.1-. N Ewolk SURFACE TUGGLE swlTcH.' APPLICATION FILED IAN'.: 13,1920.

1,361,170.l Patented ngc. 7,1920.

l '"/0/ ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM JQNEWTON, OE :BRIDGEPORE CONNECTICUT, AssIeNOn To HARVEY HUB- BELL, INCORPORATED, OE BRIDGEPOET, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CON.

NECTICUT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

ASURFACE TOeeLE-swITCII.

Patented Dec. 7, 1920.

Application led January 13, 1920. Serial No. 851,271.

Connecticut, have invented an Improvement in Surface Toggle-Switches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to improve the construction and mode of operation Otsurface toggle switches and with these ends in View I have devised the novel structure which will be hereinafter fully described.

v In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification,

Figure l is a plan View of my novel switch as inuse;

Fig. 2 a section on line 2-2 in F ig. 1., looking in the direction ot the arrows;

Fig 3 a plan view of the base and its spring contact plates;

Fig. 4 an "enlarged l() denotes the base, 11'the frame, 12 the contact arm, 13 .the operating lever which is' pivoted on agbr'acket 14 in a hub '15 on the trame, and 16 the cap which is provided with an insulating lining 17 and the edge of which engages the base. The cap is retained in place by means of a Vcentral inturned collar having with the hub. y

The frame is provided with lugs 18 and is secured to the base by means of screws 19. At diametrically opposite sides o the frame vare holes 20 the purpose ot which will throw of the operating lever, and (.iliametri-V cally across it is a depression 24 in which rests the pivot pin 25 of the operating lever. In the lugs 22 are holes 26.

The contact arm comprises ,a strip of metal bent to U-shape, the bridge portionjot sectional view on the vline 4-4 in Fig. l, lookingin the direction threaded engagement A said arm being indicated at 27. The branches 28 ot the contact arm straddle the inner arm of the` operating lever and are carried by a pin'29 which passes through holes 20 and 26 in the frame and bracket, respectively, and holds these parts together. The metal bearings 30 for said contact arm Iare insulated from the branches thereof.

The toggle 31 consists of the inner arm of the operating lever and the insulating toggle arm 32. The inner arm of the operating lever extends between the branches of thev Contact arm and is provided with an arcuate slot 33 through which pin 29 passes, and the ends of which limit the throw of the operating lever. The insulating toggle arm is composed of ytwo strips 34 held together by a plate 35, and having thereon heads 36, all

of some insulating material, such as liber. The strips are passed throughholes 37 in the plate and the heads'rest thereagainst, as clearly shown. The heads are arranged on opposite sides Ot the inner vend of the inner arm of the operating lever, and have there- 1n notches 38 to receive a cross pin 39 carried by said inner end and extending beyond vthe sides thereof. The outer ends of strips 34 are passed through holes 40 in the bridge portion of the Contact arm. A relatively strong coil spring 41 surrounds the strips and bears respectively against plate 35 Iand said bridge portion. It will be seen that the structure is such that when lever 13 is operated, the heads will pass beneath pin 29 and between the branches of the Contact arm from one slide thereof to the other.

The are slot in the inner arm of the operating lever lies between the pivot pin of said lever and cross pin 39,'the mid point of said slot being in alinement with said pivot pin and cross pin. A

42 and 43 denote the spring contact plates and 46 and 47 are binding posts carrying binding screws 44 to which wires, not shown,

passing'through holes 45 are attached. It

will beiunderstood that in the closed circuit position ofthe contact arm'the outer portions of the branches thereof will be in engagement with thespring contact plates andthe current will pass from one of said'plates to the other through the bridge portion of the Contact arm.

The operation will be perfectly clear from the description already given.' The differ- 'ent views show the Contact Earin in open circuit position. The spring -Ll is exerting pressure against the bridge portion ot the contact arm and againstvcross pin Bt), thereby holding one end wall of the slot in the operating lever against pin 29, and the contact arm in one of its extreme positions. Movement of the operating lever from the position shown to the reverse position will move thc strips outward against the power of the spring. the outer ends ot' the strips sliding through the holes in the bridge portion. This movementI will continue until the insulating toggle arm. cross pin 39 and pin 25 for the operatingI lever are in alinement. An instant later the compression ot' the spring will act to swing the contact arm tc the other extreme ot' its movement and close the circuit, the relative positions ot the insulating toggle arm. cross pin and pivot for the operating lever heilig now reversed. ln practice, the contact arln will remain in either the open circuit or closed circuit position until thc toggle swings past its dead center, when the expansion ot the spring will instantly throw the toggle to the reverse position with a snap.

l The invention provides a very simple con struction of surface toggle switch.

What I claim is:

1. A mechanism of the character described, comprising an operating lever hav ing an arcuate slot, a U-shaped contact arm Whose branches straddle the inner arm of the operating lever, a pin carrying said branches and riding in said slot, and a spring controlled insulating toggle arm bearing against the inner arm of the operating lever and having sliding connection vwith the contact arm.

2. A mechanism ot' the character described, comprising anoperating lever having an arcuate slot, a contact arm carried by a pin Which rides in said slot, and a spring controlled insulating toggle arm bearing against the inner arm of the operating lever and having vsliding connection with the contact arm.

3. A mechanism of the character described, eomprising a pivoted operating lever having a pin at the inner end of its inner arm, and intermediate said pin and its pivotal point an arcuate slot, a contact arm carried by a pin which is adapted to ride in said slot, and a spring controlled insulating toggle arm, one end of which engages the first mentioned pin, the other vend having sliding connection with the contact arm.

4. A mechanism ot the character described, comprising an operating lever having an arcuate slot,la contact arm carried by a pin which rides insaid slot, an insulating toggle arm consisting of strips of insu-r lating material having heads and an insulating plate havmg slots through Whlch the strips pass and which is engaged by the heads, said member bearing against the inner arm ot the operating lever and having sliding connection with the contact arm, and, a sprlngv bearing against said plate and against the contact arm.

5. A mechanism ot' the character de-` scribed, comprising an operating lever having an arcuate slot, acontact arm carried by a pin which rides in said slot, and a spring controlled insulating toggle 'arm bearing against the inner arm of the operating lever and forming therewith a toggle, said insulatii'ig toggle arm having sliding connection with the contact arm.

6. A mechanism oi the character described, comprising an operating lever having an arcuate slot7 a contact arm carried b v a pin which is adapted to ride in said slot, an insulating toggle arm consisting of strips of insulating material having heads and aninsulating plate having slots through which the strips pass and which is engaged by the heads, said insulating toggle arm bearing against the inner arm of the operating lever and forming therewith a toggle, and a spring bearing against said plate and against the contact arm.

7. A mechanism ot the character described, comprising an operating lever having an arcuate slot and a pin at the inner end of its inner arm, a U-shaped contact arm provided with branches and a bridge portion having slots therein, a pin extending -through the branches and through the arcuate slot, and an insulating toggle arm, the inner arm ot the operating lever and the insulating toggle arm comprisinga toggle, said insulating toggle arm consisting of strips of insulating material having slotted heads and an insulating'plate havingl slots through which the ystrips pass and which is engaged by the heads,.the slots inthe heads engaging the pin on the o erating lever and the strips passing througi the slots in the bridge portion of the contact arm, and a spring bearing against said bridge portion and against the plate of the insulating toggle arm.

8. A mechanism of the character described, comprising a pivoted operating sov which. is engaged by the heads, the slots in the heads engaging the pin on the operating 4 insulating toggle arm.

j 9..v A mechanism of the character vdescribed, comprising a pivoted operating lever having Ia pin at the inner end of its inner arm, and intermediate said pin and its pivotal point an arcuate slot,'a U-shaped contacb arm provided with branches and a )bridge portion having slots therein, a pin extend-ingthrough bearings in the branches and through the arcuate slot, said bearings being insulated from said branches, and an insulating toggle arm consisting of strips of insulating material having slotted heads and an insulating plate having slots throughl which the strips pass and which is engaged bythe heads, the Slots in the .heads engaging the pin on the operating lever and the strips passing through the slots'in thebridge portion of the contact arm, and a spring bearing a ainst saidv bridge portion and against the p ate of the insulating toggle arm.

10. A mechanism of the character described, comprising a pivoted operating lever having a pin at the inner end of its inner arm, and intermediate said pin vand its pivotal point an arcuate slot, a U-shaped contact arm provided with branchesy and a bridge portion having slots therein, a iny 'extending through bearings in the branc es and through the arcuate slot, said bearings being insulated from said branches, and an insulating toggle arm consisting of strips held together by a plate and carrying heads thereon, all of insulating material, said strips carrying` a' spring the ends of which seat against said plate and the brid e portion of the .contact arm, respectively, t 1e outer ends of said strips sliding through the slots in the bridge portion and the heads having therein slots for engaging the pin in the operating lever.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature.

WILLIAM J. EWTON. 

